Closet



Sept. 4, 1934. v H, E. HARTWELL CLOSET Filed July 25. 1932 INVENTORATTCJRN EY Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES y'PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The object of the invention is to provide a closet particularly adaptedto promote sanitation by effectively eradicating odors by their transferdirect to the waste pipe; to provide a closet in which the odoreradicating function is carried out at the time of occupancy and only atthat time; and generally to provide a device of this character which isof simple form, susceptible of cheap manufacture and of a characterpermitting it to be readily installed as a replacement for theconventional closet.

With this object in view, the invention consists in a construction andcombination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated inthe accompanying drawing but to which embodiment the invention is not tobe restricted further than may be imposed by the terms of the annexedclaim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a closet constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 ofFigure l.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view showing the hinged end of the seatand cover in raised position.

Modified over the general practice to the extent of being formed with anenlargement 10 at the rear, the closet 11 is otherwise like theconventional closet which is provided with a rim flush such as indicatedat 12.

The enlargement 10 is of such a character as to constitute a shelf forthe reception of a cover member 14 which together with the shelfconstitutes a housing for an electric motor 15, preferably swung fromthe top wall of the housing, so that when the latter is detached themotor will be removed with it. The housing may be of the same ordifferent material from the closet, but whatever the material, it issecured jointly to the shelf and to the body of the closet by means oflscrews 16 passed diagonally through the top and rear walls andtreadingly engaged in holes in the body portion of the closet and in theshelf.

The down-leg 1'7 of the siphon which communicates with the waste pipe isplaced in communication with the motor compartment defined by thehousing and shelf by means of a duct 18 formed in the enlargement andcommunicating with the motorcompartment at the rear end thereof, thepoint of communication with the down-leg being normally closed by meansof a gate valve 19, retained in its closed position through theinstrumentality of a weight 20. Except when there is a. passage of airthrough the duct 18 from the housing to the down-leg, the weight 20retains the gate valve in closed position and prevents the passage ofobnoxious odors from the waste into the housing.

Communication between the interior of the bowl or closet and the motorcompartment is through breathing holes 21 formed in the Arear wall ofthe closet. By means of this construction, when vthe motor is put inoperation, the fan 22 with which the motor is provided, draws air fromthe interior of the closet into the motor compartment and transfers itto the waste pipe through the duct 18 and down-leg 17.

The motor is actuated from the service line to which the feed conductors23 are connected through the instrumentality of a suitable receptaclewhich may and preferably does incorporate a switch, so that the motormay be manually started when desired.

To provide for automatically actuating the motor, as when the seat 24 isoccupied, or when the cover 25 of the latter is down, a normally openswitch 26 is mounted on the rim in series with the manual switch if oneis used. The switch 26 is moved to closed position by a projection 27mounted on the under face of the seat, when the seat is occupied or thecover closed. With the cover open, the spring 28 incorporated with thehinge tends to normally elevate the seat to a point which will free theprojection 2'1 from the switch, so that the motor under suchcircumstances will not be set in motion. A gasket 29 of cork or otheracceptable material is interposed between the housing and the shelf toact not only as a noise dampener but to prevent air leakage from thecompartment to the exterior. 1

By reason of the motor being carried by the housing and the lattersecured in place by screws, the whole `becomes lreadily accessible forre pairs, replacements and the like.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and usefulis:

A closet of the kind indicated having a Siphon down-leg for connectionwith a waste pipe and being formed with an enlargement at the rearconstituting a shelf, said enlargement being formed with a duct incommunication with the down-leg and opening on the top face of theshelf, a cover removably secured to the shelf on the top face thereof todefine with the latter a compartment, the closet having an opening inthe wall intervening between the bowl and said compartment, a motorsecured to the cover member, and a fan carried and driven by said motor.

' HAROLD E. HARTWELL.

